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Appeals court allows Metro shuttle to Seahawks/Mariners games

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court’s ruling that blocked King County Metro Transit from providing low-cost shuttle service to sporting events at Qwest Field, Husky Stadium and Safeco Field, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s office announced Tuesday.

The service was great for sports fans headed to see the Seahawks, Mariners, Huskies or Sounders. Metro charged $6 round trip for bus service to Qwest Field and Safeco Field from five park and ride lots around King County. Charter companies charged $12 or more. Metro’s costs were covered through fares and fees collected from the teams.

In 2010, Murray inserted a provision into the federal transportation spending bill that exempted Metro from a Bush administration rule that no public transit agency could provide service to games if private charter operators were “willing and able to so so,” even at a higher price. Private companies had complained of unfair competition with taxpayer-subsidized public agencies. The Bush administration policy was intended to give them a better shot at special-event charter business.

After Murray shepherded the new law through Congress, the American Bus Association sued. Judge Ellen Huvelle of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled the “Murray provision” was unconstitutional. In an opinion released Tuesday, the Court of Appeals reversed that ruling, finding that Murray’s legislation was constitutional and that “efforts to provide efficient and affordable transportation to sporting events aligned with legitimate governmental goals,” Murray’s office said in a news release.

“Providing affordable and efficient transportation will help support our local sports teams, bolster the local economy, and decrease traffic congestion in the city and surrounding areas,” Murray said in a news release. “I introduced this provision because the private charters just couldn’t get the job done.” With this ruling, she said, “Metro bus service to Mariners games and many other sporting events around Seattle will finally be restored.”

“If the plaintiffs wish to prevent (King County Metro) from taking Mariners fans out to the ball game, they will have to direct their petitions to Congress,” the court said in its ruling.

UPDATE: Metro still offered the shuttle service while the lawsuit was pending because the appellate court issued a stay while it considered the lower court ruling, Metro spokeswoman Linda Thielke said. But teams or event-holders have to purchase the service.

“This just kind of lifts the cloud,” she said.

This year, Metro shuttles will operate for Seafair, Seahawks, Sounders and Husky football. The Mariners opted not to contract for special service this year, Thielke said.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.